1950s Swank Tie Bar, Black Onyx Center, Silver Metal Clip

Samuel M. Stone and Maurice J. Baer founded the Attleboro Manufacturing Company in 1897 to produce and sell women’s jewelry. In 1908, Baer created a new division called Baer and Wilde, responsible for producing men’s jewelry with Stone leading Attleboro Manufacturing. Baer and Wilde worked alongside the Attleboro Manufacturing Company until the Kum-A-Part cuff button was designed in 1918, becoming an instant success.

During World War I, the Attleboro Manufacturing Company produced thousands of metal identification tags, or “dog tags,” and other emblems for the military. After the war, the company discontinued the women’s line and focused solely on producing men’s accessories, such as collar buttons, pins, tie clips, and dress sets. The Swank name first appeared in 1927 on a print ad for a men’s collar holder, and in 1936, the company incorporated as Swank Products, Inc. In 1941, the name changed to Swank, Inc.

During World War II, Swank halted accessory production to manufacture precision parts for automatic weapons, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star medals. After the war, Swank became one of the leading manufacturers of men’s accessories, including cufflinks and tie clips. In the 1960s and 1970s, the company acquired several leather goods companies, including Prince Gardner Company, a manufacturer of men’s and women’s leather goods marketed under the Prince and Princess Gardner brand names, Crestline Manufacturing Company, and the Alco Leather Manufacturing Corporation.

Swank sold leather goods under various labels, including Swank, Pierre Cardin, and L’Aiglon. The company also produced fragrances under the Royal Copenhagen name. In the 1980s and 1990s, Swank reentered the women’s jewelry market with the Anne Klein label and received a license to manufacture jewelry and accessories with the Guess? label. The company still operates today.